Boston

Boston's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, marriage and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 65,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Boston increased by 16%, from just under 55,800 to 64,600.

The addition of almost 8,900 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Boston was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Boston

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Boston remained 42 years.

This urban area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,600 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

About 13% of people in Boston are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Boston

The number of people in Boston that described themselves as Christian increased from about 45,000 in 2001 to just under 46,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 80% to 71%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 72% to 59%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Boston that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 6,400 in 2001 to about 13,000 in 2011 (from 11% to 20%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 4,100 to about 4,500. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.4% to 7.0%.

Just over 430 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 250 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Boston decreased by 9.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Boston residents that were unemployed increased from 2.8% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Boston residents that were self-employed decreased from 8.4% to 8.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Boston increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Boston, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

This area saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Across the region, Mansfield saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.5% in 2011).

In 2011, just under 1 in 17 (5.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Boston said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 6.8% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 2.7% to 2.5%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Boston

This area saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

Across the region, only Lincoln (from 44% to 37%) and South Holland (from 60% to 53%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

In 2011, just under one in two (49%) people aged 16 and over in Boston said they were married, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 24% to 29%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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